Who joins Anthony Martial in the world's ten most expensive teenagers?

One of the biggest talking points from this summer's transfer window has been the transfer of 19-year-old Anthony Martial from Monaco to Manchester United in a deal worth £36 million.

Represented as a massive risk on Louis van Gaal's part, due to the inexperience of the Frenchman, Martial is just one of many big-money gambles to have been taken by managers, with doubt being placed over whether he can live up to his price tag.

He's the most expensive teenager in football history, but who joins him in the top ten most expensive teenagers of all time?

SUBMIT AN ARTICLE

10. Alexandre Pato - Internacional to AC Milan (£15 million)

Signed by AC Milan in August 2007 shortly after the Italians won the Champions League, the then 17-year-old Pato had to wait six months to play an official match due to FIFA regulations on non-EU minors.

The Brazilian showed immense talent from the outset, netting 57 goals in 117 games for the Rossoneri, but injuries stalled his form and he was subsequently sold to Corinthians in January 2013, before being loaned out to Sao Paolo.

Nowadays you hear very little from the one-promising forward, most often in transfer windows when he's linked with at least half of the Premier League.

9. John Obi Mikel - Lyn Oslo to Chelsea (£16 million)

Manchester United thought they’d signed Mikel for £4 million back in April 2005 before complications in the transfer, involving a police enquiry after Lyn director Morgan Andresen made claims in the Norwegian media that Mikel had been kidnapped, saw him move to Chelsea instead for £16 million.

Since then the Nigerian has become a mainstay, making 224 appearances for the Blues. A consistent performer, but rarely a stand-out, the holding midfielder is linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge every summer, but somehow manages to stay put.

8. Sergio Ramos - Sevilla to Real Madrid (£22 million)

Ramos’ transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005 is a record for a Spanish teenager. Signed predominantly as a right back, he began to be deployed as a centre-back following an injury to Pepe, and has since gone from strength to strength.

Now regarded as one of the world’s finest defenders, he’s helped his club to three La Liga titles and a Champions League win, on top of World Cup and Euro Championship glory with his country. He was recently appointed captain of Los Blancos following the departure of Iker Casillas.

7. Antonio Cassano - Bari to AS Roma (£24 million)

When 19-year-old Cassano joined reigning Serie A champions Roma in the summer of 2001, his time with the club was mixed, openly clashing with manager Fabio Capello and only managing 39 goals in 118 appearances.

He did, however, win the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year Award on two occasions during his spell at Roma, once in 2001 and again in 2003.

He parted ways with Italian side in January 2006 after continued conflict over the renewal of his contract. Now 33, Cassano re-joined former club Sampdoria this summer on a two year deal.

6. Anderson (£25 million)

The Brazilian midfielder arrived at United from Porto in 2007 with great potential and yet goes down as one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s worst signings.

After impressing the Old Trafford faithful with consistent performances in his first two seasons, he suffered cruciate ligament damage in his left knee in February 2009 and never really rediscovered his form.

He was shipped off to Internacional in February this year, on a free transfer.

5. Marquinhos - Roma to PSG (£25 million)

Marquinhos joined PSG in July 2013 after an impressive season at Roma in which he was a regular at just 19-years-old.

The Brazilian has enjoyed a successful spell at PSG so far, winning two Ligue 1 titles in two seasons and forming a solid partnership with compatriot Thiago Silva. Still only 21, the young Brazilian has the potential to become one of the world’s finest central defenders.

4. Javier Saviola - River Plate to Barcelona (£29 million)

The Argentine joined the Catalan giants in 2001 at 19-years-old from River Plate and enjoyed three initial goal-filled years with the club, before being loaned out to Monaco and Sevilla.

At the end of his Barcelona contract the striker joined Real Madrid, and remains the most recent player to have played on either side of an El Clasico.

3. Wayne Rooney - Everton to Manchester United (£30 million)

At a tender age of 18, Rooney signed for Manchester United in August 2003 becoming the most expensive teenager in football history and, well, the rest is history.

After bagging a memorable hat-trick against Fenerbahce on his debut, he went on to be United’s top league scorer that season and his breathtaking performances earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

12 years later and Rooney is just 17 goals away from becoming United’s leading all time top goalscorer, two away from England’s top scorer and just 21 caps away from being England’s most capped player. Rooney has established himself as a legend for both club and country, and now captains both sides.

2. Luke Shaw - Southampton to Manchester United (£33 million)

Martial’s new team-mate broke Rooney’s record as the most expensive teenager ever last summer after impressing under now-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton.

However, the left-back struggled to find his form under Van Gaal as injuries impeded his form, and was forced to train on his own after his manager branded him as unfit.

Now fully fit, he’s hit the ground running so far this season, assisting Juan Mata’s goal in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea, and has shown glimpses of the form that led to his record breaking transfer last summer.

1. Anthony Martial - AS Monaco to Manchester United (£36 million)

Martial joined for a record-breaking fee despite being relatively unknown in English football.

The Frenchman has only featured in 52 senior matches in his short career so far but has played 12 times at Under 21 level for his country, scoring four goals, and could be in line to make his senior debut in the next week after being called up to the France squad for friendlies against Portugal and Serbia.

It remains to be seen, however, whether he’ll be a hit at Old Trafford, but United fans will certainly be hoping he’ll be more of a Rooney than an Anderson.

Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.